Tone arm control for the fully automatic or manually controlled playing of intermixed records



July 1, 1958 H. H. MUELLER 2,341,400

TONE ARM CONTROL FDR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY CONTRQLLED PLAYING OF INTERMIXED RECORDS Filed July 10. 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Fig. 4

Herman H. Mae ller 'IN V EN TOR.

Y W MW July 1, 1958 H. H. MUELLER 2,841,400

TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY CONTROLLED PLAYING OF INTERMIXED RECORDS Filed. July 10, 1953 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Herman H. Mueller INVENTOR.

y 1958 H. H. MUELLER 2,841,400

TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC 0R MANUALLY CONTROLLED PLAYING OF INTERMIXED RECORDS Filed July 10, 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5

434 Herman H. Mueller INVENTOR.

WW a

Juiy l, 1958 H. H. MUELLER 2,841,400

TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY CONTROLLED PLAYING 0F INTERMIXED RECORDS Filed July 10, 1953 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 372 Herman H. Mueller INVENTOR.

y 1958 H. H. MUELLER 2,841,406

TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY CONTROLLED PLAYING 0F INTERMIXED RECORDS Filed July l0, l953 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 L- 7 Herman H Mueller INVENTOR.

July 1, 1958 H. H. MUELLER 2,841,400

TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY CONTROLLED PLAYING 0F INTERMIXED RECORDS Filed July l0, 1953 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 290 aaqfi/ 298 520 2/2 Herman ueiler 2/ JNVENTOR.

July 1, 1958 H. H. MUELLER 2,841,400

TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY CONTROLLED PLAYING 0F INTERMIXED RECORDS Herman H. Mueller INVEN TOR.

H H. MUELLER 2,841,400

TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY CONTROLLED PLAYING OF INTERMIXED RECORDS Filed July 10, 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fig. /7

July 1, 1958 Hwmcm H Mueller IN V EN TOR.

BY Mm July 1, 1958 H. H. MUELLER 2,841,400 I TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY CONTROLLED PLAYING OF -INTERMIXED RECORDS Filed July 10,1953 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Herman H. Mueller IN V EN TOR.

BY MM 5% July 1, 1958 Filed July 10, 1953 TONE ARM CONTRO-L H H. MUELLER FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL-LY CONTROLLED PLAYING OF INTERMIXED RECORDS Fig. 25

ll Sheets-Sheet 10 F I g. 28 570 I V 530 t J 556 584 i //0 575 578 i i) E I I z Herman H. Mueller INVENTOR.

y 1, 1958 H. H. MUELLER 2,841,409

TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY CONTROLLED PLAYING OF INTERMIXED RECORDS ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed July 10, 1953 Herman H. Mueller IN V EN TOR.

atent Qfifice 2,841,400 Patented July 1, 1958 TONE ARM CONTROL FOR THE FULLY AUTG- MATIC GR MANUALLY CGNTRQLLED PLAY- lNG 0F lNTERfi iml) RECQRDS Herman H. Mueller, Ephrata, Pa, assignor of small interests to various assignees Application July 10, 1953, Serial No. 367,316

22 Claims. (Cl. 274-10) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a tone arm control for playing intermixed records of various standard sizes and speeds of rotation, and more specifically relates to a tone arm having improved means for vertically positioning the tone arm and has associated therewith an indexing means for gauging or detecting the size of a record in an intermixed stack containing records of several difierent sizes, and in response to such detection properly positioning the tone arm at the beginning of the sound track for playing that record, and all in a fully automatic manner and selectively in one of a variety of sequences of automatic playing.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a tone arm control mechanism whereby the tone arm will be properly and automatically positioned for playing, in turn, each record of an intermixed stack containing two or more different sizes of records.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for selectively positioning or indexing a tone arm at the beginning of a record sound track to play the bottom and top sides of each record of a stack of intermixed records in a continuous sequence; or to play either the top sides or bottom sides only of a stack of intermixed records in sequence; or to play manually the top sides only or the bottom sides only of a stack of intermixed records in sequence while supporting and driving the record being played above or selectively upon a turntable; or to play manually and singly on the turntable, records of different sizes.

Specific primary objects of this invention are to provide improvements in each of the horizontal movements, for imparting controlled and timed horizontal swinging motions to the tone arm, in the vertical movement for imparting controlled and timed vertical travel to the tone arm in order to compensate the vertical position of the same with respect to the stack of records accumulating upon the turntable, or to properly position the tone arm for diiferent manners of automatic playing; and in the tilting movement for efiecting controlled and timed vertical pivoting motion of the tone arm for selectively playing the top or bottom sides or both of records in sequence.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tone therewith an indexing mechanism comprising a gauging and indexing device which shall detect and respond to records of difierent sizes in an intermixed stack of records and control the horizontal movement of the tone arm and index the same in accordance therewith, and wherein the gauging device is automatically retracted into a non-gauging position upon the tone arm except during the gauging operation.

Another specific object is to provide a positive mechanical connection for tilting the tone arm to play the upper and lower sound tracks of records.

An additional object is to provide a construction wherein the tone arm is tilted at a constant angle of declination or inclination in the playing of records, which angle shall not be effected by the manner in which records are automatically played, nor by the number of records accumulating upon the turntable.

Yet another object is to provide a mercury weight assembly which shall facilitate the completion of the tilting of the tone arm over the same as has been initiated, and which will efiect a constant light but adjustable pressure of the needle against the sound tracks in either tilted position, to thereby minimize wear on the sound track and stylus.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a phonograph record player including a tone arm incorporating therein a gauging and indexing device in accordance with is invention, the gauging device being shown in the position which it assumes after having been reset for the next gauging operation;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a phonograph record player in accordance with Figure l, the parts being in the position shown in Figure land being positioned for the second of three manners of automatically playing records, as in Figure 19;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View of a position of Figure 1 but showing the tone arm and the gauging device in the position which they assume upon the completion of the gauging operation, and after the horizontal movement has been adjusted thereby in accordance with the size of the record as determined by the gauging operation for indexing the tone arm;

Figure 4 is a detail view taken upon an enlarged scale in vertical transverse section substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-% of Figure 3 and showing certain structural features of the gauging device and its association with the tone arm;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view through the phonograph record player in accordance with this invention, being taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 7, parts being broken away and shown in section;

'Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of Figure 7, parts being broken away and shown in section, this view being taken substantially at right angles to that of Figure 5, and showing the tone arm in its normal vertical position and tilted downward for playing the top side of a record carried by the turntable;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of Figure 5 and looking downwardly upon the tilting, horizontal and vertical movements of the invention;

Figure 8 is a detail view upon a slightly enlarged scale of a portion of Figure 6 but showing certain of the parts I tion'of the tone arm showing the means V of the manual and automatic control of the vertical movement in adifierent position of adjustment to elevate the tone arm above its normal vertical position for playing the top sides of records carried by the supporting and "driving'assemblwj r 1 gFigure 9 is a'horizontal sectional detail view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 9+9 of Figure 6; andtshowscertain details of the compensating mechanism for'vertically moving the tone arm and its support post assembly to calibrate its vertical positionin accordance with the accumulation of records upon the turntable; r I V fiFig'ure 10'is ahorizontal sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the' section line 10-10 of Figure 6 and showing furtherdetails of the compensating mechanism;

t Figure .1 1 is a further horizontalsectional detail view' taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 11'1 1 of Figure 6 and upon an enlarged scale "and'shows certain eletnents'of the automa'ticand manually operated control means for the tilting mechanism of the tone arm; 7 t V 'Figure 12 is a perspective view of the tilting movement cam of thedevice; j

' tion of the gauging blade of the tone arm, showing the pivot means whereby the same is secured to the tone arm;

Figuretl7 is' a fragmentary view partly in'vertical section and partly in elevation of a portion of Figure v6 taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane of thesection line 1717 of Figure 8 and showing the.

manner in which the tone arm support post is operatively connected to the control means for the tilting mechanism and to the ratchet driving means of the compensating mechanism; 7 V o V 5 Figures 18-20 are diagrammatic views,corresponding respectivelyto Figures 9-l1 of my copending application p Serial Number 359,082, partly in elevation and partly. in

sitions' of the tone arm for selectively playing records automatically in three different manners;

Figure 21 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indioated bytthe section line '21 21 of Figure 8 and showing certain details of the ad- 'lever forming a part of the horizontal movement;

Figure 23 is a perspective View of a modified form of limitlever forming a part of thethorizontal'inovement;

dicated'by the em line zs 2s 5f Figure 25 and showing the mounting of themodified gauging device;

7 Figure 29 is a' perspective view of a clutch actuator forming part of the control cam actuating mechanism;

Figure 30 is a perspective view parts being broken away, of the tone arm support post; V

Figure 31 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, of a stationary guide sleeve upon which the sup port post is rotatably and slidably mounted;

Figure 32 is a perspective view of the actuating'sleeve which connects the tone arm support post'to the ratchet:

drive means for the compensating mechanism;

Figure 33 is a perspective view of *a crank arm form-1 ing a part'of theratchet drive rneanstof the compensat- 7 ing mechanism; 7 c 7 Figure 34 is a de'tail view takeniin horizontal section substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line the gauging roller and its mounting;

34-34 of Figure 6; V

Figure 35 is a perspective view'of a connecting member for the tone arm supportpost and the ratcheting device of the compensating-mechanism; a

Figure 36 is a detail view taken in vertical section 7 .substantiallycupon the plane indicated by the section line 3'6l36 .of Figure 14, and showing stmcturaldetails of Figure '37 is a detail view takenin horizontal section substantially upon the plane indicated by thebroken section linef37--37 of Figure 36; p p I Figure 38 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line.38c'-38 of Figure 6 and showingcertain structural details of the compensating mechanism;

7 c Figure 39 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 39-397 of Figure 32 and showing certain structural features of the driving sleeve forming an element, of the connection between the tone arm support post and the ratchet drive of the compensating mechanism." 7

The novel tone arm-control and gauging mechanism set forth and claimed hereinafter'has been illustratcd'in the accompanying drawings as applied to a dual phonograph record player of the type set forth-in my prior ice-pending application Serial No. 347,507, filed April 8,

l 1953,and for automatic speed and needle changer control for playing interlocking 'records It will be. appreciated,

7 however, that although the control mechanism and 'gaugsection and'showingthe difierent vertical and tilting po- 7 type of phonograph record playerjthat the principles of ing device have been shown as applied to this particular the invention are not limited theretobut may be practiced with a variety of different constructions .of phonograph presenttinvention is primarily concerned have a move ment for imparting horizontal swinging motion to the tone arm formoving the tone ar m between a rest position 7 atone side oflthe record and a playing position upon the record; for causing the tone arm to actuate the associated record changer mechanism of the record player, upon [completion of the playing of a record; a movement'ior instances, a movement for imparting tiltingmotion to the tone arm. These movements are operated in timcd Figure 24 is a plan view of the automatically and manu- V ally operated control cam for the tilting movement;

Figure 25 is a vertical sectional detail view showing in elevation the tone arm and a modified form of gauging of Figure. 25 and looking upwardly at 'the'bottom of the toneiai'm audits gauging device; 7

Figure 28 is a vertical transverse sectional maul taken upon 1 an "enlarged scale substantially upon the plane, in-

impar'ting vertical movement to the tone arm; and in some relation-to each other to enable thetone arm tot perform its.various motions and'functions during its operation.

" The, present invention disclosed and'claimed hereinafter ;relates to improvements in each of thesethree move ments. 6 a v 7 General Organization The automatic record player and changer illustrated in V the accompanying drawings is offthe dual. record type,

and includes a cabinet or casing 10 havingttop' and bottom walls 12 and 14. Rotatably mounted upon the top ofithe cabinet is a turntablelld which may be of any suitable constructiontandmounting, and is driven in any desired manner fiom a uni-directional constant speed motor, not shown, as disclosed for example, in my co-pending applications: Serial Nos. 98,048; 296,382; 314,987; and in my prior Patent No. 2,559,786.

There is further illustrated a stationary spindle 20 having means for supporting a stack 22 of intermixed records 24 of different sizes to be released'successively in any desired manner from the stack for playing. These records are preferably of the interlocking non-slipping type disclosed in the above mentioned applications and patent. A record supporting and driving assembly is shown in Figure 2 and this is preferably of the type disclosed in my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 98,048; 296,382; 384,987; 347,507; 318,365. The assembly 26 serves to support a record 18 above the turntable and to drive the record from the turntable but in the opposite direction of rotation to permit the tone arm to play the underside of the record.

The pressure arm assembly 28 is employed to maintain the record 18 being played in firm non-slipping contact with the means 26, the turntable 16 or the records 34 carried by the turntable, and may be of the character disclosed in my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 98,048;

A tone arm 38 is also provided with a record gauging or indexing device, as set forth hereinafter, and may include the features set forth and claimed in my copending applications Serial Nos. 296,558; 347,507. In particular, the tone arm 30 includes a needle changer assembly 32 of the construction claimed in Serial No. 347,507, and a tone arm support post of a particular construction to be set forth hereinafter; or in some instances which may be of the same or of a similar construction to that shownin Serial No. 296,558.

Also, illustrated in the drawings, is a stack weight assembly 36 which may be of the construction and operation disclosed in application Serial No. 347,507.

Both the vertical and horizontal movements actuate the tone arm by an operative connection with the tone mm support post. In addition, to these movements, there is a further mechanism or movement for selectively tilting the tone arm upwards or downwards uponits support, when the tone arm is positioned between the records 18 and 34, whereby to position the needle as sembly in playing position upon either the top sound track or the sound track on the under surface of a record 18 mounted upon the supporting and driving assembly 26 or the sound track on the upper surface of a record 34 resting upon the turntable or the stack of records accumulated upon the turntable; or above the record 18 when playing the top surface of a record positioned upon the supporting and driving assembly 26. This mechanism or movement is known as the tilting movement.

The horizontal, vertical and tilting movements are operated by the motor, not shown, in proper correlation to each other and to the other movements of the record player by the mechanisms or movements to be described fully hereinafter.

The tone arm assembly includes a gauging or indexing device, two forms being illustrated and described hereinafter, which detect the size of a record to be played and then adjust the horizontal movement accordingly so that the tone arm will be indexed or set down upon the sound track of the record at the proper point despite variations in the size of successive records. These gauging devices are likewise described fully hereinafter.

Tone arm mounting and support A novel mounting and support structure is provided for the tone arm whereby the latter may be rcciprocated vertically under the control of the vertical movement; may be tilted about a horizontal axis under the control of the tilting movement; and may be rotated horizontally about a vertical axis by the horizontal movement.

As seen best in Figures 4, 6, and 14, the tone arm 30 has a flat top wall 40, a pair of flat parallel side walls .2 and an open bottom, being pivoted for vertical tilting to the furcations 43 on the upper end of a vertically extending tubular support post 44, see Figure 30, by horizontal trunnions or pins 46. As set forth hereinafter, the support post is caused to move vertically by the vertical movement and to rotate or oscillate about its vertical axis by the horizontal movement, carrying with it the tone arm which is also capable of an independent vertical tilting about the horizontal axis of the pins 46.

By a compensating mechanism 48, to be hereinafter more fully described, and different forms of which are set forth in detail in my prior applications Serial Nos. 296,558; 359,082; the support post and tone arm are automatically vertically elevated step-by-step, each time a record is played and changed in order to compensate the vertical position of the tone arm for the accumulating stack of records upon the turntable whereby the tone arm and its stylus will always be at the same relative vertical position with respect to a record being played thereby. The construction and operation and improved form of this compensating mechanism and its driving means are set forth in detail hereinafter.

A horizontal disposed platform 50, see Figures 5-7, is guidingly disposed within the cabinet 10 for vertical movement by any suitable number of supporting rods 52, secured to the underside of the platform, four such rods being shown in Figure 7. These rods have their lower ends slidable within stationary support cylinders 54 mounted upon the base 14 and provided with air vent passages 56 to prevent a dash pot effect. The lower ends of the support rods 52 comprise plungers or pistons slidable in the support cylinders, or may be provided I with plunger or pistons.

Secured within the cabinet, as by being fastened to the top and bottom walls thereof, are a pair of stationary guide rods 58 and 60. The platform 58 has suitable apertures 62 and 64 by which it is slidable upon the guide rods. By means of bushings or tubular members 66 and 68, at its opposite ends, a cross head 70 is mounted for vertical sliding movement upon the guide rods.

A tilting movement cam 72, see Figure 12, which directly controls the vertical movement of the tone arm, is freely rotatably and vertically slidable upon the guide rod 60 by means of a hub 74. The hub rests directly upon the upper end of the bushing 68, while a spacer and supporting sleeve 76 is slidable upon the rod 60 and abuts the cam 72 and the platform 50.

A horizontal movement cam 78, see Figure 13, which directly controls the horizontal swinging movement of the tone arm, is likewise freely rotatable and slidable vertically upon the rod 58, suitable spacer and support sleeves 80 and 82 being provided upon the rod 58 be tween the cam 78 and the bushing 66 and the platform 58. A horizontal bracket 84, see also Figure 6, is journaled upon the rod 58 and has a vertical arm 86 secured to the platform 50 and serves to further brace and rigidify the members 555 and 70.

By the foregoing construction, vertical movement of the cross head 70 will result in corresponding vertical travel of the platform 50 which is fixedly positioned relative to the cross head and is carried thereby.

Mounted upon the bottom wall 14, is a stationary standard 88 having a journal bearing 89 in its upper end which guidingly and slidingly receives the support post 44. The latter is rotatably and slidably received upon a stationary vertical sleeve 90, see Figure 31. At their upper ends, see Figure 6, the sleeve 90 and the support post 44 extend through the top wall 12 being journaled therein by the bushing 92. A set screw or locking pin 94 carried by a bracket or lug 96 mounted on the top wall 12 extends through a slot 98 in the support post 44 and engages and secures the sleeve 90 whose lower end terminates adjacent the bearing 89. As shown wthe'upper edge of the slot'124 in the plunger.

' 7 in dotted lines in Figure 6, and'in Figure 31, the slot 98 extends a suitable distance both axially and circum ferentially'of the support post 44'to allow the necessary vertical and horizontal oscillatory motion required for the vertical and horizontal swinging movement of the tone arm. a 1

Vertically slidable within the sleeve 90 is the tone arm tilting rod 100, having an axial bore 102 in its upper end which receives the vertical leg 104 of a tilting pin ltle 'having a horizontal leg-108. The latter extends through and rides in a circumferentially extendingvertical notch or slot 109 in the upper'end of the member .99 and between the support post furcations 43 whereby the tilting pin has vertical motion with the'tiltingrod and support post but is restrained against rotation relative to the tone armand its support post. For this purpose the slot 169 in the stationary sleeve 9% is of sufficient circumferentialextent to allow the leg 108 to swing horizontally with the tone arm and support post .as well as to move axially thereof upon vertical movement of the tilting rod 100. The horizontal leg 108 engages a seat or indentation upon the underside of a bracket 11%), see also Figures 4 and 14, secured to and extending below the tone arm side walls 42, whereby the tone arm may'be'vertically tilted upon its supportingpins 46 by which it is pivoted to-the support post 44, upon vertical movement of the tilting rod 109. a

Intermediate its ends, the tilting rod 100 has a lateral actuating pin 112, see also Figure 34, which is engaged with the vertical movement cam 72 in a manner to be subsequently set forth. This pin 11?. is guided in a narrow vertical slot 114, in the stationary sleeve 90 and extends through an' elongated and widened slot 116 in the axially and oscillatably movable support post 44, this last mentioned slot 116 possessing another function as set. forth hereinafter. L

At' its lower end, the support post has an arcuate or circumferentially extending rib or shoulder 117 which rests upon and is secured to and carried. by the cross head 70 for vertical movement herewith.

Reference is next madeto the diagrammatic views of 'Figures 18-20, which disclose the d'rferent vertically adjusted positions of the tone arm during the automatic or manual operation of the record player.

Figure 18 shows the position assumed by the tone arm when it is desired to automatically play the top and bottomsides of a record 18, while the latter is supported uponand driven by the-supporting; and driving assembly 26. The tone arm is first elevated to the position A of FigurelB, above the record supported by the assembly 26, by interposing the cam upper surface 128 beneath the top edge of the plunger slot 124, as shown in Figure 8. The tonearrn is then tilted downwardly to play the .sound groove upon the top side of the record. After 'the top side of the record has been played in this mani ner, the cam wedge 126 is withdrawn until the lower cam surface 130 is positionedin the'cam slot 124, as shown in Figure 6, thereby vertically lowering the tone arm from the position A to the position B of Figure l8. tone arm is then tilted upward to play the sound track on the underside of the record.

Figure 19 shows the tone arm positionwhen the sound .track upon the underside of a'record is to be played wherrthe record 18 is supported upon the assembly 26 and the sound groove upon the top side'of the records to be played when that record is supported, as at 34, upon the top of the turntable 16 or the stack of records placed thereon. In. the position of'Figure 19 the tone arm remains in the same vertically adjusted position as that described above in connection with position 13 of Figure 18, this being the position in which, as shown in Figure 6, the lower cam surface 130 is engaged with In the position of Figure 19, the tone arm is tilted upwardly to the position shown at B, this being identical with the The a all) position B of Figure 18, to play the underside of the' record carried bythe supporting assembly 26. Thereafter, the tone arm is tilted downwardly to the position'shown at C whereupon the .top. side or the record 13, after the latter has been lowered to the turritable in the position of the record34, is theniplayd "Figure 20 showsthe position of the toneLarm whenit is desired to play'r ecords in a conventional manner, by

successively dropping the records from a stack mounted upon the spindle to the turntable, and playing the top side the record only when the latter res't'u pon the turntable. in this mode of operation; corresponding to the conventional operation of the 'well known record player, the supporting and driving assembly and the pressure head assembly 26 and 28, respectively, arewithdrawn to one side of the turntableof the record player 'and remain idle.

In this manner of playing records automatically, the tone arm is positioned at'the -same vertical position as employed in the playingof records in the manner indicated in Figure 19, this being the position in which the lower cam surface 139 is disposed at the upper end of-the. slot 124 in the plunger. In this position, the tone arm is positioned downwardly to the position shown in Figure 20, this'being the same-position C seen in Figure 19, and the top side of the record.

is played.

In summary, from'the foregoing three manners of automatically playing records, it will be seen that the tone arm is positioned vertically at the same position, as shown in Figure 6, for the playing of either top or bottom sides of records except when the top side of the'record .is played asthe latter is supported upon the supporting and driving rollers'as in Figure 18, the tone arm then being in the elevated vertical position indicated'at A.'

During the above mentioned automatic playing of'records, in the manner indicated in Figures 18 and 19 it is understood that the supporting and driving assembly 26 and the pressure arm assembly 28 are operated automatically and in timed relation to the operation of the 7 it is also possible to 'rnanually play records withthis apparatus. For that purpose, the records are individually placed manually upon the turntable, with the tone arm placed in its normal vertical position, as shown in Figure 6, and the tone arm is'then applied and withdrawn from the record manually, as suggested in Figure 20.

In order to place the tone'arm in, the position A of Figure 18, in order to play the top. side. of 'a record 18' mounted upon the; supporting and driving assembly 26, it is necessary to vertically elevate the crosshead support post and tone arm relative to the compensating mechanism 48. For that purpose the following mechanism is provided. v

Depending from'the cross head 70 is a sleeve 118, see Figures 6 and 8 in particular, having a hollowlateral extension 118 and a longitudinal slot 120 diametrically alined with the opening from the sleeve into the hollow extension. The plunger 122 is slidable in the sleeve and has a longitudinal diametrical slot 124 alined with the sleeve slot 12%. .Slidable in the lateral extension 118 is a cam 126 having a pair of vertically and horizontally spaced upper and lower surfaces 128 and 130. a The cam is slidably adjustable transversely of the sleeve and plunger by a flexible cable control assembly indicated generally by the numeral132. Vfhen the cam is adjusted as shown in Figure 6,'the lower surface 130 is interposed between the bottom edge of the slotl120 in the sleeve 116 and the top edge of the slot 124 in the plunger 122 whereby the cross head will be in its lowered position relative to the sleeve for lifting by the latter. This position of the tone arm is the normal playing position.

In this position of the wedge 126, the tone arm is positioned in the two playing positions B of Figure 18; or the positions B or C of Figure 19; or the position C of Figure 20, for the purposes and operation set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 359,082; and as set forth hereinafter.

When the wedge 126 is actuated or shifted by the cable assembly 132 to cause the upper cam surface 128 to be positioned within the plunger slot 124, as in Figure 8, the plunger 122 and the cross head supportedthereby will be elevated relative to the sleeve 118. Thus, the tone arm carried by its support post 44 will be temporarily lifted above its normal position. This is the position of Figure 9 of application Serial No. 359,082, and the position A of Figure 18 to play top side of records carried and driven by the supporting and driving assembly 26.

The wedge 126 is disposed as in Figure 8, only when the tone arm is to be elevated from the position B of Figure 18 to the position A therein, for playing the top side of a record supported upon the assembly 26.

The mechanism for operating the cable assembly 132 is synchronized with the various organizations and instrumentalities forming the automatic record player, and is fully disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial Number 359,082, filed June 2, 1953, for Selective Record Lowering, Lifting, and Releasing Means for Automatic Interlocking and Conventional Record Players. A detailed explanation of this mechanism has therefore been omitted as being unnecessary to an understanding of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein.

Whenever the term neede is used in this specification,

it is to be understood, and it is intended that the same.

is employed to include and comprehend Styluses of all types, magnetic sound reproducing pick-ups, light ray pick-ups and all other means for reproducing tones from a sound recording.

Tilting movement In a conventional form of automatic record player, the tone arm is tilted through a widely varied range of declination, depending upon the number of records accumulating upon the turntable. This varying declination is relied upon to allow for or compensate for the variation in elevation of the topmost record on the tumtable during the operation of the record player. In such an apparatus, it will be apparent, each tilted or vertical angle of the tone arm and needle with the record being played will be varied as a record is added to or taken from the stack upon the turntable. Such variations in the amount of tilting of the tone arm will detrimentally effect the wear upon the sound groove of the record and upon the fidelity of tonal reproduction.

It is an essential feature of the apparatus of the present invention that a constant and unvarying amount of tilting or declination and inclination of the tone arm relative to the sound tracks on the upper or lower surfaces of records being played shall be obtained, even though the number of records and the elevation of the topmost record of a stack of records on the turntable may be widely varied. To secure this desideratum, the tone arm is atomatically vertically repositioned upon each playing of a record whereby the tone arm will be disposed at the same relative position with respect to the record to be next played, thus effecting the same amount of tilting, either upwardly or downwardly, when the tone arm needle sets down on a sound track, by a compensating mechanism.

The tilting movement of the tone arm is effected by vertically raising and lowering the tilting rod 1069 Within the tone arm support post 44 and the stationary sleeve 90 therein, this vertical movement of the tilting rod causing vertical adjustment of the tilting rod pin 1% whereby its horizontal leg 108, in contact with the bracket 11%, carried by the tone arm 30 will cause vertical pivoting movement of the tone arm about its horizontal trunnions It will be understood that the weight of the tone arm and its center of gravity are so disposed that the tone arm will normally be in its lowered position except when elevated or tilted upwardly by the tilting rod pin leg 1%. If desired, a spring means could be employed to yieldingly urge the tone arm into its lowermost position.

The tilting rod 109 is positionable in three vertical positions, which result in placing the tone arm in a horizontal or idle position, when the tilting rod is at an intermediate vertical position; in any upwardly tilted position corresponding to the position B of Figures 18-20 when the tilting rod is in its raised uppermost vertical position to play the bottom side of a record; and in a downwardly tilted position, as in the positions C of Figures 19 and 20, and A of Figure 18 to play the topside of a record. These three vertical positions of the tilting rod 1% to cause the tone arm to be disposed selectively in the horizontal, the upwardly tilted and the downwardly tilted positions are obtained by travel of the tilting rod actuating pin 112 in an appropriate one of three vertically spaced circumferential cam grooves upon the tilting cam 72. The actuating pin 112 is positioned in the appropriate cam groove by a control means which selectively positions the pin in the proper vertically spaced groove. The control means is operative as desired, either manually or automatically by and in synchronization with the other instrumentalities of the record player.

As shown best in Figures 5 and 12, the tilting cam 72 carries upon its cyhndrical surface three vertically spaced circumferentially extending cam grooves. These include an upper cam groove 27%, an intermediate cam groove 280 and a lower cam groove 282. A vertical channel 28 communicates with and forms a transfer or connecting passage between the three grooves, whereby the actuating pin 112 may be vertically adjusted, as mentioned above, to cause the pin to register with a selected groove, and upon rotation of the cam 72, to travel in that groove. It is intended that the rotation of the cam 72 shall be so controlled that it will cease its rotation in such position that the pin 112 will register with the channel 284 in readiness for vertical travel of the pin relative to the circumferential grooves.

The upper cam groove is so contoured and proportioned that it will give a final upward tilting movement to the tone arm to cause the needle to set down in playing position upon the sound track on the bottom side of a record in the position B of Figures 13 and 19; and to stay in the upwardly tilted position until the record has been played. Thereafter, the pin 112 will pass ofi the end of the circumferential cam surface with the transfer channel 28 4, allowing the pin to lower from the groove 278 whereupon the tone arm and needle will be slightly lowered or tilted slightly downward out of contact with the sound groove.

The intermediate cam groove 28b has a cam or bearing surface of uniform vertical height whereby the pin 112, in its travel through'the groove, will be held vertically stationary thereby holding the tone arm in a horizontal or idle position, as in Figure 2, at which time the needles are spaced equidistantly between the records 18 and 34. In this position, the tone arm may freely swing in and out of the records it? and 34 without danger of touching the sound tracks thereof. It will also be observed that rotation of the cam '72, when the pin 112 is in the intermediate groove 23!), will be inefiective to tilt the tone arm either upwardly or downwardly. The lower cam groove 282 is similar to the upper cam groove 28% but causes a final downward tilting of the tone arm to cause the needle to set down in playing position upon the top control cam lobes.

' side ofja record 18 'or 34 'in the positions A 'Of Figure 18 or C. of Figures 19 and ZO;

The control means pfovided for manually or automatically adjusting the tilting rod 1% for registry with a selected cam groove, as shown in Figures 6, 8 and '12,

comprises an anti-friction ball 138 journaled on the 'lower end of the rod and constituting a cam follower which is i operatively engaged with a tilting control cam 14!) Any suitable means,

mounted upon the control shaft 142. I such as a flexible cable 286 is'operatively connected to the control shaft'l42 for rotatably adjustin he latter, as

set forth hereinafter.

Referring to Figure 24, it will be seen that the control cam has a high lift lobe 1414-, a low lift lobe 146 and an intermediate lift lobe 148. These lobes are recessed or p The control cam actuatingcable 285 is secured to a casing 288 in which it is detachably connected, in a manner to be subsequently set forth, to the end of further flexible cable actuating cable 298 which in turn enters a timer and synchronizer unit 292 of any suitable and conventional design which correlates the timing ofthe various instrumentalities and organizations of the record player.

Since the construction and operation of the'timer 292,

forms no part of and is not essential to an understanding of the invention set forth and claimed herein, a further illustration or discussion of the same is deemed to be unnecessary.

As shown in Figure 11, the driving cable 290 has a splined end 294 which is slidably engaged in the splined socket 296 of a'sleeve 298 having conical head 360. A

compression spring 392 surrounds the sleeve 298 and yieldingly urges the latter inwardly of the casing 288. A stem 3% extends axially from the conical head, having a splined extremity 306. The latter is adapted for detachable slidable engagement in .a complementary splined socket in the head- 3438 of a sleeve 310 which is in splined engagement with the control cable 286. The arrangement described above is such that when the sleeve 293 is allowed to move towards the sleeve 310 under the bias of the spring 302, the stem 394 has its splined extremity 366 in driving engagement with the splined socket of the sleeve 308, as in Figure 11. In this position, the control cable 286 is connected to the cable 290 for movement with the latter whereby rotation of the control cam 149 will be effected automatically and under the control of the timer unit 292.

Provision is made, however, for a release means'to disengage the driving connection of the control cable 296 from the cable 290 whereby the former may be manually operated and controlled. This release means may conveniently consist of a plunger 312, slidable in a guide sleeve 314' under the influence of a manually operable actuator such as the flexible cable 316 which may be actuated from the cabinet exterior. The plunger, see Figure 29, has a nose portion 318 Whichis longitudinally slotted at 32% to slidably embrace the stem 384. The cam portion has a'narrow portion 322 at its outer end which is connected by an inclined surface 324- to a relatively thickened portion 326 comprising a wedge; When the cable 316 is pushed, the plunger is moved towards'the stem 3%, placing the wedge 326 between the sleeves hcads308 and 369, disengaging the spline 306 from the splined socket of the head 368 and breaking the'driving engagement of the cables 29% and 286. p

The manual control means comprises a pinion 328 on the sleeve 31%) which is engageable by a rack bar 330 constituting a control rod, see also Figure 7,-which extends exterior'ily of the cabinetiand is provided'with a manual. actuating knbb 332. To guide the rack bar control rod, the latter has alongit'udinal guide slot 334 V which is slidably received upon'a guide pin 336' mounted a I on a bracket 'or lug 338 on'the cabinet wall,

cable 290'. disconnected by the wedge3 26' fromthec'able 236, the latter may be rotated by"the'manual*control rod 336 to vertically adjust the tilting rod Hi0 and its.

actuating pin 112 by the control cam 14-8. a

It is desirable that the stylus shall rest upon 'the'sound track of a record with a light and constantpressurein both the upward and downwardtilted positions. Accordingly, the tone arm may be'provided" with a mercury weight 458, see Figure 6,-which applies the sameuniforrn weight to the stylus when the arm is tilted in either direction, as set forth in my pending application 296,558.

Compensating mechanism The compensating mechanism 48 vertically elevates the" tone arm support post each time a record is deposited upon the turntable, whereby the tone arm will be main-. tained at a fixed vertical position with respect to a record 7 to be played, which is disposed at a fixed elevated distance above the-varying stack of records on the turntable by the supporting and driving assembly 26.

sating mechanism is automatically actuated by the oscillation of the tone arm support post as the tone arm swings horizontally in and out during the playing of records. Provision is made for varying this automatic actuation and also to substitute therefor a manual actuation, when desired. For an understanding of the structure and functioning of the compensating mechanism 48, and the ratchet drive for the same, reference is made to FiguresS, 6, 8, l0, 17, 21, 30, 33, 35.

Secured to the base 14, see Figure 5, is a stationary cyhndrical member or compensating cam 340 displaced of the recesses 350 is therefore proportional to the amount of vertical compensating travel which his desired to give to the tone arm support post, being either equal to or a multiple of the number of records which the record player can automatically handle.

A lifter assembly is associated with the compensating V cam for actuationtnereby. This consists of a follower 352, which may be of the construction shown and described in my copending application Serial Nos. 98,048; 296,558 and 314,987, has its depending extremity 354 adapted to seat in the recesses 35:) as the follower travels along the inclined cam track 342. Extending laterally from a head 356 is a horizontal arm 358 having the follower 352 rigidly mounted thereon and depending therefrom.

Referring especially to'Figures 5, 6, 8, 10, 21, and V 38, it will be seen that disposed centrally in the comperr sating earn 340 is a tubular shaft 426 having integrally or fixedly mounted thereon, adjacent its lower end, a pinion or ratchet gear 428, and having its lower end suitably journaled at 439 in the bottom wall 432 of the cam. A manually operated ratchet lever 434 and an automatically operated ratchet lever 424, see Figures 8 and 9, are journaled on the shaft 426 between the ratchet gear 428 and the bottom wall 432.

The internal bore of shaft 426 has a' series of keyways 436, see Figure 38, which slidingly receive longitudinal With the Connecting and operating means in the form ofan adjustable ratchet I drive or mechanism, are provided whereby, the compen- 13 keys 438 on the exterior surface of a tubular member 44% which is telescoped in the shaft, and has the above mentioned enlarged head 336 overlying the upper end of shaft 426 and constituting a support for the lower end of the sleeve 11%. The aforementioned follower 352 is mounted upon the head 356 by the arm 358. The previously mentioned plunger 122 has a reduced extension 442 which is loosely received in the bore of the member 441' As so far described, it will be evident that upon rotation of the ratchet gear, the follower will be rotated upon the cam surface 342, traveling upwards in a step-by-step motion and carrying with it the cross head 79 and the support post and tone arm.

The automatic and manual ratchet levers have spring pressed pawls 444 and 446 respectively which operatively engage the ratchet gear 423 and a pawl 44% is pivoted to the inner side of the compensating cam 34%, as shown in Figures and 21, to prevent reverse rotation of the tubular shaft 426. The manually operated ratchet lever 434 has a radial slot 45% in its outer end for the reception of a connecting pivot or pin 452 whereby an actuating member 454 in the form of a rod, bar or flexible cable, may be connected to said lever and extend to the exterior of the cabinet for manual operation. By this manually operated ratchet lever, the step-by-step upward travel of the tone arm 'may be effected to properly position the latter when automatic operation is not desired and records are played manually.

At this point it should be noted that the abrupt drop portion 343 of the compensating cam, which returns or lowers the support post after all the records of a stack have been automatically played, is provided with a cut-off switch 45-6 for the electric motor of the record player, actuated by passage of the follower extremity 354 thereover, as set forth in my prior copending application Serial No. 296,558.

Ratchet drive for the compensating mechanism Surrounding the lower end of the support port 44 is a driving sleeve 363, see Figures 17, 32, and 39, which has an axial keyway 362 slidably receiving a key 364 on the lower end of the support post 44 to permit vertical axial sliding movement of the support post therein and cause the sleeve to oscillate as a unit with the support post. A pair of opposite longitudinal slots 366 opens upwardly from the bottom end of the sleeve, being adapted to register with the slot 11.6 of the support post. An additional longitudinal slot 367 extends from adjacent the top and adjacent the bottom for a purpose to be later disclosed.

A lateral retainer lug 368 extends from the upper end of the sleeve 36% for engagement with the underside of the journal bearing 89 through which the sleeve extends, as shown in Figures 6 and 8, to prevent vertical movement of the sleeve. A pair of oppositely positioned arcuate ribs 370 are positioned upon the exterior surface of the lower end of the sleeve.

As seen in Figure 6, a bushing 372 is threadedly secured in the cabinet bottom wall and constitutes a journal bearing for the spindle 374 formed as an axial projection on the bottom end of the stub axle 376, see Figures 35 and 6. An arm 378 extending horizontally from the bottom end of the stub axle carries a vertical tubular member or sleeve 386. A horizontal arm 332 on the bottom portion of the support post 44 carries a vertically depending pin 384 adapted to be telescopically received in the tubular member 383. The stub axle is axially alined with the support post whereby the telescoping connection of the elements 334 and 3843 establishes a driving engagement therebetween, whereby oscillation of the support post 44 provides corresponding oscillation of the stub axle 376.

Extending laterally from the stub axle 376 are axially and circumferentially displaced pins 386 and 388 which "i4 constitutes part of an adjustable ratchet drive for the compensating mechanism.

As seen best in Figures 6, 8, 10, 17, 21, and 33, there is provided a crank arm or lever 390 secured integrally rigidly to the mid-portion of and extending laterally from a sleeve 392 which is rotatably and slidably journaled upon and is driven by the stub axle 376. The lower end of the sleeve is cut away or notched, as at 394, to provide vertical walls 396 and 393, see Figure 17 comprising actuated surfaces, whereby the pins 386 and 388 upon proper vertical adjustment of the sleeve 392, will selectively impart difierent oscillatory movements from the stub axle 376 to the crank arm 390 Welded or otherwise rigidly mounted on the standard 88, see Figures 6, 8, and 17, is a horizontal bracket 400 having a depending bearing sleeve 402 whose inner and outer surfaces respectively journal and guide the stub axle 376 and the driven sleeve 392. A compression spring 404 encircles the sleeve 462 and yieldingly urges the driven sleeve 392 downwardly upon the stub axle. in order to adjustably lift the driven sleeve 392 upon the depending sleeve 402, there is provided a ring or yoke 496 which surrounds the sleeve 462 and engages the underside of the crank arm 3%, the yoke being carried by a horizontal arm 468 extending from the lower end of the vertical adjusting rod 410, see Figure 5 and also Figures 1 and 3, having a finger grip knob 412 located above the cabinet top wall 12 adjacent the tone arm mounting.

The rod 410 extends through a guide and locking cylinder 414 mounted upon the top wall and which has a spring biased detent 416 selectively and releasably engageable in a pair of recesses 41% in the rod 410. The pair of recesses are spaced a distance equal to the axial spacing of the driving pins 336, 388, on the stub axle 376 and are so positioned that when the upper recess is engaged by the detent 416, the lower edge of the sleeve 392 will be lifted above the lowermost pin 386 whereby the notch walls 396 and 398 can contact, and he oscillatably driven by the upper pin 388; while the lower recess 418 is engaged by the detent, the sleeve 392 will be lowered so that both pins 386, 388, lie within the walls of the notch 394 and the rotationally advanced pin, the lower pin 386 will be effective to oscillate the sleeve 392. In view of the angular or circumferential displacement of the driving pins, it will be evident the constant amplitude of oscillation of the stub axle 376 will result in a different amplitude and time of oscillation and stroke being given to the lever arm 3%.

At its outer end, the crank arm 390 has a radially extending slot 420 which slidingly receives a connecting pin 422 which is upstanding from a ratchet lever 424 which extends through a circumferentially extending slot 426 in the compensating cam 340 adjacent the bottom thereof, as shown in Figures 5, 6, and 8. As shown in Figure 8, the connecting pin 422 is of sufficient height to permit the aforesaid vertical adjustment of the sleeve 332 and its arm 3% while maintaining the driving connection during vertical adjustment of the sleeve 392 and its arm 390.

As the tone arm support post 44 oscillates each time a record is played, the connecting members 334 and 389 will cause the stub axle 376 to oscillate; and a selected one of the actuating pins 386, 388 thereon will actuate the arm 3% to thereby operate the ratchet lever 424. The manual adjusting mechanism 412, 41:43, 408, 466, will vertically adjust the arm 390 to vary the time and amplitude of its oscillation by the pins 386, 388. When a longer period and time of oscillation are provided .by the manual adjustment, the ratchet lever imparts a greater amount of rotation to the shaft 426, as by rotating the latter two teeth of the ratchet gear 428. This moves the follower 352 two steps or recesses up the cam track 342 thereby lifting the tone arm through its support post a distance sufficient to compensate for the lowering of a record upon the turntable. This enables each oscillation of the horizontal movement cam. 73;

shorter stroke to'the ratchet lever 424, whereby the shaft 426 and its ratchet gear will be rotated; at single tooth at a time, thus requiring two actuations by the tone arm (each corresponding to' the playing'ofone side of'a' rec-t rd) to move the tone arm and support ppst upward of the I I compensated position for'playing the next record *It will be noted from Figures 17 and 30 that the lower end of the support post 44 hasinternal bosses or shoulders 46fi'having alined bores 462'which serve to journal the shaft 142 of the tilting control cam 14% whereby the latter is iournaled in and reciprocates vertically with the support post; One end of thecontrol shaft extends through one -bore'462 and also through the slot 3670f the driving sleeve 369'." The lobes of the cam 140 are givenclear- 'ance'andare received in the 'slots'366 of the sleeve 360' and apair of diametrically, disposed slots S69 'ingthe I supportpost d4. j

J Horizontal movement I T hehorizontai movement controls the horizontal'swinging of the tone arm fromitsidle or rest position on the record player outside of the diameter of the records upon the spindle,,to' a position-within the circumference ofa record for playing the same and thereafterinside the sound track of the record after the record has been played. tThis movementrincludes the horizontal movement cam 78 andan operative connection between this cam and "the tone arm-support post 44 whereby the latter is oscillated about its vertical axi's under the control, of the cam to impart the desiredhorizontal swinging movements to the tone'arm. e

"A horizontal swing lever 15% see inparticular Figures 7, is rigidly secured to the support post 44, foroscillatory movement therewith, being disposedwithin the cabi- 'net 19 and below the platfOrm'Sfi andlying above-the This lever has a depending pin 152 which rests in and is operated by the'carn track 180. upon the top surface "of the'cam 78. Thus, as

the cam 73 isrotated; by any suitable means in properly timed relation to the actuation of the other instrumentalities of the :record player," corresponding synchronized horizontal swinging movementswill' he imparted to the tone arm by tr ehorizontal movement cam; ltwill 'be a particularly noted that the'operative connectionbetween the tone arm, the horizontal swing lever and the horizontal movement cam will be" unaltered despite vertical ad justrnents. of the. tone arm since the platform 5% which carriesthe cam 72 and 73 will move as a unit with the tone arm and the horizontal swing lever. L

" it the opposite end from its connection with the support post. the. horizontal'swing lever 159 has a lateral extension withan arcuately extending circumferentially toothed portion 154 which is adapted to be operatively engaged with a conventional form of reset mechanism 'whereby svhen the tone armhas completed its playing of V the sound'tr Ch of arecord, and is disposed at the central portion of the record inside. the sound track, the tone arm will be oscillated as the stylus orneedle of the tone arm travels in the oscillating reset groove of the record. Since this ireset mechanism is of conventional designand merely serves to energize the appropriate.instrumentality of the are conyentional, "and in' themselves form no part of the the horizontal swinglever, the

is provided with a flange 160 which is adapted asset forth hereinafter to be selectively positioned for engagement by the pin 152 of the horizontal swing lever, whereby the limit lever, by engagement of the pin against the flange will limit radial travel ofv the pin 152 in the'camgroove 180 and consequently of the swing lever towards the center of the horizontal movement cam. Thi limiting of the limit lever upon the horizontal swing lever serves to position or index the stylus of the tone arm for proper setting down upon the sound track of a record for beginning the playing of that sound track. 'In the conventional limit lever construction, there are' two stop recesses, corresponding to the positioning or indexing of a tone arm for playing two sizes of'records, as for example, 10 inch and 12 inch records. In acc0rdance with this invention, however, the flange 160 permits 7 a very'large number of settings to properly index or position the tone arm stylus for selectively playing seven inch,

ten inch, or twelve inch records, or any size of records. 7

- In the modified form of limit lever 155 illustrated in Figure 23, there are provided, in lieu of the flange of the lever 156, a pluralityof stop notches or recesses, one for each size of record for'which it is desired to index the tone arm, as for example, thenotches 162,164, and 166 for seven inch, ten inch or twelve inch records respectively. is identical with that of the limit lever 156, except that the former can index the tone arm for only those sizes of records for which the notches are provided, while the latter by its flange 160 can accommodate a varying number of sizes of records. r i i The other or actuated ends 167, .168, of the levers 155, V

156, respectively, are modified from the conventional construction by the addition thereto of actuated flanges 169 and 170, by which the. limit levers are adjustably actuated by a gauging or indexing mechanism set forth hereinafter.

,It will be seen that although the horizontal swing lever employed in the horizontal movement'of this invention is unaltered from conventional design,'the limit lever is modified from conventional design by the addition of the abutments or stbps at one end and by the'provision of an actuatedflange. at the other end.

zontal swing lever; or to cause an appropriate portion of the flange 160 to perform its same function; Thus, either 7 form of limit lever 155 or 156, serves to index the tone arm for playing a record.

M Referring. now especiallyto ligures 12 and '13, will be seen that the tilting movement cam 72 and the horie zontalimovement cam 78 are provided with external ring gears 176 and 178respectively, by means of which these cams are constantly in mesh with each other to maintain at'all times, a fixed synchronizedrelation with each other.

- Power can be applied to either gears 176 or 178 from the conventional source of power for the record player in any conventional manner. Since this arrangement forms no part of the invention claimed herein, illustration or furtherdiscussion of the same is consideredsuperfluous.

Attention is now, directed specifically. to Figure '3 wherein it will be apparent that the horizontal movement cam 78 has a cam groove 180 in which travelsthe pin 152 of the horizontal swing lever.

of this pin from the axis of'ro'tation of the The functioning of the modified limit lever 155 The radialmovement earn as the pin travels along the circumferentially extending cam groove 180 causes the horizontal swinging movement of the tone arm. The cam groove has a recessed portion 182 across which is positioned a leaf Spring 1554 has a bulging portion 186 extending further toward the center of the cam than does the conventional leaf spring. The improved leaf spring functions to resiliently urge the swing lever pin towards the center of the cam where it will engage the appropriate notch or recess of the limit lever 155 or the appropriate portion of the flange 16d of the limit lever s.

Gauging and indexing device In order that the record player in accordance with this invention may automatically play a Staci: of intermixed records of difierent sizes, there is provided a gauging indexing device which gauges or determines the size of the next record to be played by the tone arm, and in response to and in accordance with the gauging operation adjusts the limit lever to properly position or index the tone arm for its set down upon the sound track. of the record at the beginning of the same.

Referring now more particularly to Figures l4, i6, 22, it will be seen that the tone arm 3-5: upon its top wall 43', is provided with an upstanding drum or cylindrical member 2429, which upon opposite sides is provided with peripheral grooves 252. A gauging blade in the form of an elongated, generally fiat strip 204 is provided in its intermediate portion, as shown more clearly in Figure 16, with an annulus 236 which is rotatabiy received upon the cylindrical member 2% and is provided with diametrically disposed pins 208 which extend into the annulus and are received in the grooves 282, previously mentioned. These pins may be screw-threaded into the annulus for ready application to or removal therefrom. By means of these pins, the annulus and the gauging blade are secured to the cylindrical member 265 for hori zontal swinging movement thereon, the gauging blade resting and sliding upon the top wall do.

At what may be termed its front or gauging end, the gauging blade 284 is provided with a vertic ly disposed gauging element, which may conveniently take the of a pin or roller 212 while at its rear end the blade is provided with a downwardly extending arm 228. The gauging pin extends above and below the tone arm and is automatically vertically reciprocated and adjusted for an operation and in a manner to be subsequently set forth, and the side wall 42 of the tone arm which is adjacent the turntable is provided with a cylindrical recess 215 adapted to receive this pin when the gauging blade is moved into a collapsed position against the tone arm at the completion of the gauging operation, as in Figure 3.

Extending laterally from the gauging blade 2.4)4 between its annulus 266 and the gauging pin 21?. and from what may be termed the rear or non-gauging side of the blade is an arcuately extending member 213 constituting a guide. As shown in Figure 22, the guide Zid extends through a transverse guide slot 229 provided in the lower end of a bracket 222 which is secured to and rises from the top wall 49 of the tone arm.

As will be apparent by reference to Figure 4, the bracket 222 is provided with a chamber 239 in its upper portion which opens into the slot 229. This chamber receives a compression spring 232 which urges a detent ball 23% downwardly against the arcuate guide 21%. As an appropriate position along its length, the arcuate guide i provided with appropriately spaced slots or apertures 2'56 and 226 which are h adapted to receive the detent bail to thereby re lient y and yieldably retain the guide in a predetermined position, these being the collapsed or reset position of the device shown in Figure 3, or the extended or reset position of the gauging blade when the latter is ready to begin its gauging operation, as in Figures 1, l4, and 22.

' ball.

At its extreme outward end, the arcuate guide 213 is provided with a flange 2 th which is adapted for actuation by a reset abutment.

Rising from the top wall 12 of the cabinet is a stand ard having a screw 246 threaded tiierethrough. The screw is threadedly engaged with the standard, and is rotatably but non-threadedly engaged with a channel- 'shaped member 248 constituting an adjustable abutment. This abutment is positioned for engagement by the flange 24d of the arcuate guide 213, and is so positioned that when the tone arm moves or is swung horizontally away from the turntable and records and toward the idle or rest position of the tone arm, the flange will strike the abutment whereby the final movement of the tone arm away from the turntable will result in pushing the armate guide from the collapsed position of Figure 3 outwardly from the tone arm into the gauging position of Figure 1. During this movement of the guide, the slot 226 of the gauge blade guide 213 is disengaged from the detent bali, and the detent aperture 236 of the gauge blade guide is moved into engagement with the detent The gauging blade is thus resiliently secured in its reset position in readiness for the next gauging operation.

Referring more especially now to Figures 1, 2, 6, and 14, it will be observed that the top wall 12 of the cabinet has an arcuate slot 238 therethrough to permit passage of the gauging blade arm 228 during arcuate movement of the latter in response to movement of the tone arm. The gauging blade arm 228 is adapted for operative connection with the tone arm limit lever previously mentioned in a manner to be now described.

Attention is now directed generally to Figure 2 and more specifically to Figures 14, 22, 36, and 37 for a more complete understanding of the gauge pin 212 and its mounting and operating mechanism. The gauge blade has a longitudinal slot 464 at its forward end and a vertical bore 456 intersects this slot. The gauge pin 212 is slidably received in the bore 466, has an axial chamber or bore 468 opening from one end, which chamber is closed by threaded plug 479.

A longitudinal slot 472 is provided in the pin 212 communicating with the chamber 468 and a retainer pin 474, carried by and extending inwardly from the end of blade 2%, is disposed through the slot 472 and into the chamber 468 to retain the pin in its vertical bore 466 and prevent rotation thereof. The pin also constitutes a seat for a pair of compression springs 476 and 478 which are disposed in the chamber 463 and engage the bottom of the chamber 463 and the closure plug 476 respectively. The springs yielding retain the pin in its intermediate vertical position, which is the rest or inoperative position of the pin, and tend to yieldingly return the pin to the position when it is displaced therefrom.

Diametrically opposite the slot 472, the gauging pin has a latching recess 43%. A latch lever 482 pivotally mounted in the slot 464 by a pivot pin 434, has a ball detent 486, yieldingly biased by a spring 488 housed in a chamber 499, which ball detent is adapted to seat in the detent recess 43% of the gauge pin.

A latch actuating lever 492 is fulcrumed at 494 intermediate its ends to a fulcrum support or bracket 496 mounted upon the gauge blade 2nd and has a downturned forward end 498 extending into the slot 464 and pivoted at 'iit) to the latch lever 482. At its other end, the actuating lever 492 has a pivotal connection 5*32, see Figure 6, with a connector member 594 which extends through an aperture 566 in the cylindrical member 2% on the tone arm and rests upon the tilting pin 102', upon the horizontal leg M3 at the axis of the vertical leg 164.

The operation of the latching mechanism and its etfect upon the functioning of the gauging pin 212 are as follows.

The gauging pins length is less than the distance between the adjacent surfaces of records 18 and 34, see t Figure 2, resting upon the supporting and driving assem- 

